Hammertoe and mallet toe

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing hammertoe Hammertoe

Signs and symptoms of hammertoe and mallet toe may include:

  • A hammer-like or claw-like appearance of a toe
  • In mallet toe, a deformity at the end of the toe, giving the toe a mallet-like appearance
  • Pain and difficulty moving the toe
  • Corns and calluses resulting from the toe rubbing against the inside of your footwear

Both hammertoe and mallet toe can cause pain with walking and other foot movements. 

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have foot pain that's persistent and that affects your ability to walk properly and carry out other motions with your foot. Also, see your doctor if one or more of your toes has developed a clenched or claw-like appearance.

DS00480

Aug. 21, 2008

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